Speaking today to reporters, including James Edwards III of The Athletic and Keith Langlois of Pistons.com, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver said that he plans to remain aggressive at the trade deadline, but doesn’t anticipate it being nearly as eventful as the 2020 offseason, when the front office overhauled nearly Detroit’s entire roster.
“I wouldn’t expect a bunch of fireworks, but we’re going to be aggressive and comb the league and look at things to see if we can get better,” Weaver said. “But I don’t anticipate as much activity as we had in November. It would be kind of hard to top that.”
Weaver addressed a series of other topics during his media session, praising head coach Dwane Casey for the player-development work he has done this season and stating that there will be an update on injured point guard Killian Hayes (hip) next week. The Pistons’ GM added that the team intends to take a “long, long look” at Dennis Smith Jr. and that he likes what he has seen so far.
Here are a few more of the most notable quotes from Weaver’s presser, via Edwards and Langlois:
On whether anyone on the roster is off-limits via trade:
“No. Nobody is untouchable. … I learned, ‘Never say never,’ but there are some guys who are here to stay, so we’ll see. … I’ll say this guy is untouchable and then someone calls and offers four first-round picks. Strange things have happened.”
On whether Mason Plumlee might be traded at the deadline:
“Mason has been tremendous. Coach Casey … this was his No. 1 guy that he really wanted for our ball club because of the different skills he brings, experience and locker room presence, and Casey was dead on. This guy has been tremendous for us. He’s really helped the young guys, really stepped his game up.
“… As far as the trade deadline, I’m not sure what’s going to come our way with Mason. We’re extremely happy with him right now.”
On why Weaver uses the team “restore” rather than the more-common “rebuild”:
“My dad, he used to collect older cars, and he had a 1966 Monte Carlo that he was restoring. Before he passed, I would go out there and talk with him. He said, ‘You can only restore something that is great.’ That stuck with me.
“There’s been greatness in Detroit. Three championships. That’s why I wanted to use it. No slight to what I’m about to say, but the Timberwolves can’t restore. They don’t have three championships. They don’t have the greatness. The Atlanta Hawks can’t restore. The Detroit Pistons can restore. We want to restore greatness back in the franchise.”
So, basically, anyone can be had for a truckload of draft picks.
Oh, and DSJ has looked like an actual NBA player the last two weeks or so. While I don’t think he’s looking like a starter, he’s still getting into game shape. Very happy to see him thrive on a team committed to development.
Right on!
Exactly, nobody is untouchable
If Wolves offer 2 unprotected first round picks and Rubio for Grant, Pistons would trade him
Are the Wolves better now? Yes
If only the Wolves owned their pick this year that could work….
I think the Pistons do not want to move Grant this year but anyone throwing an extremely high package that is higher than what Weaver might get next year, he’s traded. The beautiful thing about leverage is when you have it, you don’t ask for the deal, you let the deals come to you. He’s on a 3 year deal at 20 million which is now considered cheap.
To me
Fully rebuild means tank
All worst teams would use the words like retool and restore, which means zero tank and compete for big thing
Smith is becoming DSJ again. You have to play to improve. It’s not that difficult really. Smith numbers are up across the board. Do it over 36 mins and they are solid. (Not a fan if per 36 min). Biggest thing is his FT%. It’s telling if you can shoot or not. His problems with Knicks started when he lost his shot. Then lost his mins. Then got lost in the shuffle of coaches. He’s at worst a rotation player. Has to take advantage of this opportunity.
Pistons should definitely be looking to draft. And move all players for assets. And play young guys to find a core. Mobley is a guy they should be very interested in. A top 5 pick is a future star in this draft.
I like Mobley alot! But Big men in the top 5 always scare me because alot of their careers get derailed by injury.
He’s more a modern C. Can go outside and and play. But still plays D. Just think he fits Pistons with Stewart at PF and the youth of team. And passing PG like Hayes. Detroit got nice young talent.
I agree with you.
Few players play over 36 minutes. It’s a coach’s call, not a dam contest. A player averaging 37 minutes isn’t better than a player averaging 36, at least for that reason. I thought you were joking with that miserable line of thought but you’re serious!
The per-36′ stat is to prorate everyone to 36′ for comparison purposes.
If DSJ needs minutes to make FTs, that is one reason why he will never be worth it… he takes star prerogatives, but he’s not a star. A backup PG should be able to focus.
I’ve been a Pistons fan since about 85 or 86 and I can’t remember having a young team, that was mostly built through the draft like this one, since the Bad Boys. They’re young, energetic and I’m really excited for the future for the first time in about 15 years!!